Book sterilizing machine



Feb. 2, 1954 ELTlNGE 2,667,672

BOOK STERILIZING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTQR.

Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOOK STERILIZING MACHINE MarshallEltinge, Salt Lake GittzUtah Application October 9, 1950, Serial-N0.' 189;197

.3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to sterilizing devices. and has particular reference to apparatus for the sterilization of books, papers and the like.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide apparatus for sterilizing-books and the like which will efficiently render them free from germs and contamination without injury to the pages or bindings.

Another object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the character described above in which books of various sizes may readily be accommodated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a book-sterilizing machine having novel means for mixing a disinfectant or germicide with air.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a machine having novel means for humidifying and heating a gaseous disinfectant.

Another object of my invention is to provide a book-sterilizing machine incorporating a novel riflling device for automatically separating the leaves or pages of books as they travel through the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means for directing currents of gaseous disinfectant into and through the interior .of articles undergoing sterilization.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanyingdraw- In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustratinga preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the book trough and clamp.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings, the sterilization unit embodying my invention includes a generally rectangularsterilizing chamber 110 defined by a top I I, double side walls l2 and 13, double end walls it and I5, and bottom wall 16. Longitudinal chain conveyors ii are mounted within the chamber In on suitable framework 18. A plurality of conveyors ii are disposed within the chamber, one above the other, although only a single conveyor is shown in the drawings for clarity of illustration.

Each of the conveyors l'l includes a pair of parallel side chains I19 driven by sprockets 20 connected With-91 11191 91 2| by means of suitable transmission 22. Means are provided for supporting the books 23 in their'travel through the chamber H1, and as shownin the drawings these means may include-the transverse channel or trough members which :areconneoted at each end to one of the side'chains l3. Themembers 24 may be pivotally connectedto shafts 25 for adjustment. The covers of the .books are seated in the V-shaped troughs 24, thetrough members being spaced sufficiently-farapart so that the book covers assume an inverted .V-shape, with. the pages or leaves depending freely therebetween. Longituuinalholmdown members 2e, triangular in cross-section, may be provide to securely maintain the books in place. Manually adjustable clampsZl ,may alsobe provided for adjustment of the hold-down members 26. These clamps 21 may include U-zshaped frame members 28 pivotally connected to stub shafts 2 9 and secured thereto by means of nuts30. The holddown members 26 are adjustably mounted on .the frames 28 by meansof threaded elements 3| and locking members 32 which are provided with 1evers'3 3 to facilitate the operation of the locking members.

As the books progress through the chamber I0 they are subjected to sterilizing rays from the ultra-violet'lamps 34 which are located at suitable'intervals intermediate the conveyors I! so that irridations from the lamps may be directed both upwardly against the underside of the upper row of books and downwardly against the top of'the lower row of books.

Means are provided for separating and riffling the pages of the books asthey travel through the chamber, and as shown in the drawings, these means may include the resilient brushes. 35 which are mounted onrotating transverse rods 35. As shown best in Figure 3,'these brushes are slightly curvedand offset with respect-to the direction of travel of the books so that the'fingers 3'? may sequentially engage-the dependingleaves of the books and thus -separate" them to permit the penetration of sterilizing rays from the lamps 34 and also permit thepenetration of sterilizing gases which are introducedinto the chamber in the manner-described below.

A blower housing 38 is mounted beneath the chamber ill, the unit 38 having exterior walls 3d forming a continuation of the walls i2, i3, Id and [5. A plurality of fans or blowers ii! are mounted within the housing 38 for rotation about a horizontal axis. Inner walls 4! form an air passageway from the chamber 42 formed by the double side walls I2 to the chamber 43 formed by the double side walls l3. The fans 40 are driven counterclockwise as seen in Figure 2 by the motor 44, drawing air through the inlet 45.

Means are provided to inject a predetermined amount of liquid disinfectant into the air which is discharged from the blowers 40, and as shown in the drawings, these means may include the perforated tubular supply line 46, upon which the blowers 40 are journalled. The hollow axles 4? of the fans 40 are likewise perforated to permit formaldehyde or other disinfecting gas to be pumped from the germicide generator 48 through the perforations in the supply line 46 and into the air stream produced by the fans. The speed of rotation of the fans 40 is regulated together with the formaldehyde input in order to obtain the proper ratio of 17.5 g. of gas per cubic meter of space used.

Means are provided for heating and humidifying the sterilizing gas thus produced, and as shown in the drawings, particularly Fig. 2, these means may include the horizontal plates 49 extending through substantially the entire length of the chambers 42 and 43. These plates are heated by means of heating elements 50. Perforated overhead water pipes 51 are mounted longitudinally in the chambers 42 and 43 and are arranged to drip water onto the plates 49 to form steam upon contact with the heated plates. Copper wire screening 52 is suspended in inverted U-shape by means of longitudinal rods 53, the screens being connected with the plates 49 at suitable intervals to be heated by conduction therefrom. As the germicide emerges from the outlet 54 of the blowers, it rises to mix with the steam-laden air in the chamber 43. After being humidified and heated by the steam adjacent the hot plate 49, the vapor rises. Any loss in heat is restored at least partially when the germicide passes through the heated copper screening 52.

The humidified and heated gaseous disinfectant is then forced into the chamber l through triangular apertures 55, those on the inner wall i3 being identical in size and shape and in horizontal and vertical alignment with the apertures on the inner wall l2. It will be noted that the books 23 assume a triangular shape when they are supported on the conveyors H. The apertures 55 are made to roughly correspond in size and shape with the triangle formed 'by the books 23. The motors 2| are provided with stopping and starting means (not shown) which permits intermittent travel of the conveyors H through the chamber 19. The travel of the conveyors between pauses is arranged so that any one row of books will stop in a direct line between opposite apertures 55. The covers of the books form a semi-enclosure through which the germicide travels in substantially a direct current from the chamber 43 to the chamber 42, resulting in a direct and thorough penetration of the germicide into the interior of the books. Turbulent flow of the gas is obtained by passing it through the copper screening 52 before entrance into the sterilizing chamber 10, thus tending to cause the pages of the books to be rifiied or separated.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself to the exact details of the construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for sterilizing books and the like, walls forming a chamber, conveyors for moving books and the like longitudinally through said chamber, V-shaped channel members secured to said conveyors transversely thereofQsaid channel members having upstanding arms forming troughs and spaced so that the edges of the covers of said books may be inserted into said troughs for supporting the books with the pages thereof depending freely between the covers, hold-down members operably associated with said channel members for clamping the book covers in place, means for introducing a gaseous germicide into said chamber, and means for rifiiing the pages of the books as they progress through the chamber.

2. In a device for sterilizing books and the like, walls forming a chamber, conveyors for moving books and the like longitudinally through said chamber, channel members secured to said conveyors transversely thereof, said channel members having upstanding arms forming V-shaped troughs and spaced so that the edges of the covers of the books may be inserted in said troughs for supporting the books with the pages thereof depending freely between the covers, hold-down members operably connected to said channel members for clamping the book covers in place, said hold-down members being V-shaped and nested in said troughs, means for introducing a gaseous germicide into said chamber, and means for rifiling the pages of the books as they progress through the chamber.

3. In a device for sterilizing books and the like, walls forming a chamber, conveyors for moving books and the like longitudinally through said chamber, channel members secured to said conveyors transversely thereof, said channel members having upstanding arms forming V-shaped troughs and spaced so that the edges of the covers of the books may be inserted in said troughs for supporting the books with the pages thereof depending freely between the covers, hold-down members for clamping the book covers in place, said hold-down members being V-shaped and nested in said troughs, means for pivotally and swingably connecting said hold-down members to said channel members, means for introducing a gaseous germicide into said chamber, and means for riiiiing the pages of the books as they progress through the chamber. 7

MARSHALL EL'ITNGE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 569,596 Allen Oct. 20, 1896 757,684 Rossiter Apr. 19, 1904 1,243,211 Wagner Nov. 27, 1917 1,285,787 Oldham Nov. 26, 1918 

